Flavio Cobolli Shines in Almaty
Michelsen, Mochizuki, and Struff progress at the ATP 250 event.
October 15, 2025
Photo Credit: ANDREY UDARTSEV/Almaty Open
Flavio Cobolli holds a 29-23 record this season, according to Infosys ATP Win/Loss Index.
Written by Sam Jacot
In his first appearance at the Almaty Open, third seed Flavio Cobolli triumphed over Rinky Hijikata with a score of 6-4, 7-5, marking an end to his recent slump on tour.
After a notable victory against Andrey Rublev in Beijing, the Italian faced a short setback, suffering losses to Learner Tien at the ATP 500 and Jaume Munar in Shanghai. However, Cobolli displayed his skill against Hijikata, smashing 21 winners while only making seven unforced errors, successfully advancing to the quarter-finals in just 79 minutes.
Having a remarkable year, Cobolli has bagged titles in both Hamburg and Bucharest. The 23-year-old currently ranks No. 22 in the PIF ATP Live Rankings, and a title run in Almaty could propel him back into the Top 20, where he’ll face James Duckworth next.
Australian qualifier Duckworth pulled off a stunning upset against seventh seed and last year’s finalist Gabriel Diallo, winning 7-6(3), 6-7(3), 6-4—marking a significant highlight of his season. Impressively, Duckworth did not face a single break point during the match, according to Infosys ATP Stats.
Meanwhile, Shintaro Mochizuki recorded his third tour-level win of the season by overcoming Arthur Cazaux with a score of 6-4, 6-4. Now climbing to No. 99 in the PIF ATP Live Rankings, the 22-year-old aims to break into the Top 100 for the first time, taking on fourth seed Luciano Darderi next.
Alex Michelsen ended his five-match losing streak, securing a place in the second round by defeating Beibit Zhukayev 6-2, 6-3. The American, who hadn’t won since Cincinnati in August, will next face Aleksandar Vukic. “I am thrilled with my performance,” said Michelsen. “He’s a formidable opponent with a powerful serve. I’m extremely happy to get the win and to be in Almaty for my first time!”
Jan-Lennard Struff also progressed, edging past Mackenzie McDonald with a scoreline of 2-6, 6-3, 6-4. The German hit 25 winners, enhancing his record to 2-0 against the American in their head-to-head encounters. Struff will now prepare to face the top seed and defending champion, Karen Khachanov. Additionally, Frenchman Corentin Moutet ousted local favorite Alexander Shevchenko 7-5, 6-3, adding to his momentum after a semi-final appearance last month in Hangzhou.
Lastly, Fabian Marozsan achieved a stunning victory over fifth seed Brandon Nakashima, winning 7-6(5), 6-1, to reach his second tour-level quarter-final within a month. The 26-year-old has made history as the first Hungarian to reach the last eight in this tournament, where he will clash with either second seed Daniil Medvedev or Adam Walton.
